Who Is Andrew Krivak & Where Is He Now? 2026 Update & Profile

Andrew Krivak spent nearly 24 years in prison after being convicted of murdering 12-year-old Josette Wright, a schoolgirl who disappeared from Putnam County, New York, in October 1994. His case became one of the region’s most contentious criminal prosecutions, involving a disputed confession, recanted witness statements, allegations of police coercion and evidence concerning another potential suspect.

His story is revisited in ABC’s 20/20 special “Hiding Beneath the Surface: The Putnam County School Girls,” airing Friday, November 13, 2026, at 9/8c. The two-hour investigation examines Josette’s murder, the disappearance of 17-year-old Robin Murphy in April 1995 and the criminal cases that resulted in the acquittals of Krivak and Anthony DiPippo.

Krivak was convicted in 1997 of second-degree murder and first-degree rape. He maintained his innocence and challenged the prosecution’s evidence for more than two decades. His defence argued that investigators had obtained a false confession and relied on unreliable witness testimony while failing to give sufficient attention to information involving Howard Gombert.

After years of litigation, Krivak secured a new trial and was released on bail in October 2020. On February 27, 2023, a jury acquitted him of the charges, ending the criminal case that had dominated his adult life.

Krivak pursued compensation for his wrongful imprisonment and reached settlements totalling approximately $25.72 million in 2023 and 2024.

As of November 2026, Andrew Krivak is a free man whose convictions for Josette Wright’s murder have been overturned. His precise current residence and occupation have not been established through reliable public reporting.

• “Hiding Beneath the Surface: The Putnam County School Girls”: 20/20 Reports on Josette Wright & Robin Murphy November 13 2026
• Who Is Anthony DiPippo & Where Is He Now? 2026 Update & Profile

Who Is Andrew Krivak?

Andrew Krivak is a New York man who was convicted in connection with the 1994 murder of Josette Wright and acquitted at a retrial in February 2023.

He was a teenager when Josette disappeared and became a suspect during the investigation into her death.

Krivak’s prosecution was closely connected to that of Anthony DiPippo, another young man accused of participating in Josette’s murder.

Both men were convicted in separate proceedings in 1997 and received lengthy prison sentences.

Krivak maintained that he had not committed the crime and that his confession had been obtained through improper police questioning.

His case became the subject of extensive litigation involving the reliability of witness statements, the handling of evidence and allegations concerning another possible perpetrator.

The legal proceedings continued for more than two decades before a new trial resulted in his acquittal.

Krivak’s experience has become associated with the consequences of disputed confessions and the difficulties faced by people seeking to overturn criminal convictions.

The Murder of Josette Wright in 1994

Josette Wright was 12 years old when she disappeared from Carmel, New York, on October 3, 1994.

Her mother reported her missing on October 4 after she failed to return home.

The disappearance prompted an investigation into her movements and the people who might have encountered her before she vanished.

For more than a year, authorities were unable to establish what had happened to the missing girl.

On November 22, 1995, a hunter discovered human remains in a wooded area of Putnam County.

Investigators identified the remains as Josette’s and classified her death as a homicide.

The passage of time between her disappearance and the discovery of her remains created substantial forensic difficulties.

Investigators relied on witness accounts and statements as they attempted to reconstruct the circumstances of the murder.

The investigation led to criminal charges against Krivak and Anthony DiPippo, whose convictions would become the subject of decades of litigation.

How Andrew Krivak Became a Suspect

Investigators began examining Krivak after receiving statements from people who claimed to have information about Josette Wright’s death.

The investigation focused on a group of young people who had been connected through friendships and relationships in the Carmel area.

Among the witnesses was Dominick Neglia, whose statements helped direct investigators towards Krivak and Anthony DiPippo.

Other witnesses provided accounts that prosecutors used to support their theory of the murder.

The case developed at a time when investigators faced limited physical evidence because Josette’s remains had been discovered more than a year after her disappearance.

Witness testimony became a central part of the prosecution.

Krivak denied involvement in Josette’s death.

His defence challenged the reliability of the allegations and questioned whether investigators had obtained accurate statements from the witnesses.

Those concerns became important during subsequent legal proceedings, when several witnesses recanted or disputed portions of their original accounts.

The July 1996 Confession

One of the most important pieces of evidence against Andrew Krivak was a confession obtained during police questioning in July 1996.

Krivak was a teenager when investigators questioned him about Josette’s murder.

He signed a statement implicating himself and Anthony DiPippo in the crime.

The prosecution used the confession to support its account of how Josette had been killed.

Krivak maintained that the confession was false and had been obtained through coercive interrogation.

His defence argued that investigators used pressure and information from the case to produce a statement consistent with the prosecution’s theory.

The circumstances surrounding the confession became a major issue in litigation challenging his conviction.

Defence attorneys questioned whether the statement represented reliable evidence of guilt or reflected the conditions under which Krivak had been interrogated.

The case attracted attention because of concerns about investigative practices involving young suspects.

Krivak’s disputed confession remained a central issue throughout his efforts to obtain a new trial.

Why Krivak Said His Confession Was False

Krivak maintained that he had not murdered Josette Wright and that his confession did not describe events he had committed.

His defence argued that investigators had subjected him to pressure during questioning.

The allegations included concerns about the methods used to obtain statements from young suspects and witnesses.

Krivak’s lawyers questioned whether investigators had supplied information that appeared in the confession.

The defence maintained that a confession obtained through coercion could not provide reliable proof of guilt.

The prosecution relied on the statement as part of its case against him.

The dispute became important because a confession can carry substantial weight with jurors.

Krivak’s legal team sought to demonstrate that the statement should not be treated as independent confirmation of the prosecution’s theory.

His eventual acquittal followed a retrial in which the defence challenged the reliability of the original evidence.

The verdict did not require jurors to determine the identity of Josette’s killer.

The Witness Testimony Against Andrew Krivak

The prosecution relied on testimony from several people who claimed to have information about Josette Wright’s death.

Denise Rose, who had dated Anthony DiPippo, became a central witness.

She testified that she witnessed the sexual assault and killing of Josette inside a van.

Other witnesses, including William MacGregor and Adam Wilson, provided accounts that investigators used to support the prosecution’s theory.

During later proceedings, witnesses recanted important portions of their original statements.

Some alleged that investigators had pressured them to implicate Krivak and DiPippo.

Dominick Neglia also recanted allegations that had helped direct investigators towards the two men.

He described repeated questioning and pressure from detectives during the original investigation.

The recantations raised substantial questions about the reliability of the testimony used to secure the convictions.

Denise Rose maintained her account, but the defence challenged its credibility and the circumstances under which it had developed.

Andrew Krivak Convicted in 1997

In 1997, Andrew Krivak was convicted of second-degree murder and first-degree rape in connection with Josette Wright’s death.

The verdict resulted in a lengthy prison sentence.

Anthony DiPippo was convicted in separate proceedings arising from the same homicide investigation.

The convictions appeared to provide a resolution to a case that had begun with the disappearance of a 12-year-old girl.

Krivak maintained his innocence following the verdict.

He challenged the prosecution’s evidence and pursued legal remedies intended to secure a new trial.

The case remained disputed because of questions about witness testimony and the handling of information concerning another possible suspect.

Over time, those questions became central to proceedings examining whether the original conviction could stand.

Krivak’s imprisonment continued while his legal challenges moved through the courts.

The Years Andrew Krivak Spent in Prison

Krivak spent nearly 24 years incarcerated before securing release on bail in October 2020.

His imprisonment began when he was a young man and continued through much of his adult life.

During those years, he remained convicted of a crime he maintained he had not committed.

His legal challenges required repeated examination of the original investigation, witness statements and decisions made during the prosecution.

The case became part of a wider discussion about wrongful convictions and the consequences of unreliable testimony.

Krivak’s efforts to obtain a new trial focused on whether jurors had received a complete account of the evidence.

His defence argued that information concerning another potential suspect should have been available to the jury.

The litigation continued for years before the courts permitted his case to be reconsidered.

His eventual acquittal ended the criminal proceedings but could not restore the years he had spent in custody.

Howard Gombert Emerges as an Alternative Suspect

Howard Gombert became an important figure in the legal challenges to Krivak’s conviction.

Gombert had a history of sexual offences involving girls and young women. Defence attorneys argued that his background and alleged statements about Josette’s death warranted examination.

Information concerning Gombert had also emerged during Anthony DiPippo’s efforts to overturn his conviction.

A witness had reported seeing Josette enter a vehicle driven by Gombert on the day she disappeared.

Investigators examined the vehicle but did not recover physical evidence establishing that Gombert had murdered Josette.

The defence argued that the possibility of another perpetrator was relevant to whether Krivak and DiPippo had received fair trials.

Evidence involving Gombert became important because the original prosecutions had relied on disputed witness testimony and Krivak’s contested confession.

Gombert has not been convicted of Josette’s murder. The allegations against him remain distinct from any established criminal finding.

The Alleged Prison Confession by Howard Gombert

Joseph Santoro, a man who had been incarcerated with Howard Gombert, became an important witness in the efforts to challenge the original convictions.

Santoro claimed that Gombert made statements in prison suggesting knowledge of Josette Wright’s death.

According to Santoro’s account, Gombert discussed the deaths of two girls from Putnam County and referred to other men being convicted in connection with one of the cases.

The allegations attracted attention because Josette’s murder and Robin Murphy’s disappearance had occurred within months of each other.

Defence attorneys argued that the statements could provide evidence of an alternative suspect.

The allegations did not establish that Gombert had committed either crime.

Santoro’s credibility became a separate issue after he was accused of seeking money connected to his testimony.

He pleaded guilty to extortion and received a four-year prison sentence.

Santoro maintained that his allegations concerning Gombert were true, despite the criminal proceedings involving his demands for money.

The dispute complicated the evaluation of the alternative-suspect evidence but did not eliminate its significance to the defence.

Anthony DiPippo’s Acquittal Changes Krivak’s Case

Anthony DiPippo was convicted in 1997 in separate proceedings arising from Josette Wright’s murder.

His conviction was overturned in 2011 because of a conflict of interest involving his trial attorney’s previous representation of Howard Gombert.

DiPippo was convicted at a second trial in 2012, but that verdict was overturned in 2016 after the New York Court of Appeals ruled that relevant alternative-suspect evidence had been excluded.

At his third trial in October 2016, DiPippo was acquitted.

The verdict meant that one of the two men convicted of Josette’s murder was no longer criminally responsible under the prosecution brought against him.

Krivak remained imprisoned and continued fighting his own conviction.

The evidence concerning Gombert and the reliability of the original witness statements became important to his legal proceedings.

DiPippo’s acquittal did not overturn Krivak’s conviction, because their cases had been prosecuted in separate trials.

But the result strengthened public scrutiny of the original investigation and renewed questions about whether the prosecution had identified the correct perpetrators.

The Legal Battle to Overturn Krivak’s Conviction

Krivak’s efforts to secure a new trial involved years of legal proceedings.

His defence challenged the reliability of his confession and the witness statements used during the original prosecution.

Attorneys also argued that information involving Howard Gombert had not received sufficient consideration.

The legal proceedings examined whether the original conviction remained reliable in light of evidence that emerged after the trial.

The defence maintained that the prosecution’s case had depended on statements affected by pressure, inconsistencies and credibility problems.

Krivak continued asserting his innocence while his lawyers pursued post-conviction relief.

The case attracted support from people and organisations involved in challenging wrongful convictions.

Among those supporters was Jeffrey Deskovic, who had spent 16 years imprisoned for a murder and rape he did not commit.

Deskovic’s foundation became involved in efforts to help Krivak obtain a new trial.

After extensive litigation, Krivak secured the opportunity to have the charges reconsidered by another jury.

Jeffrey Deskovic’s Role in Andrew Krivak’s Case

Jeffrey Deskovic became an important supporter of Krivak’s efforts to overturn his conviction.

Deskovic had been wrongfully convicted of murder and rape in New York and spent 16 years in prison before his exoneration in 2006.

Following his release, he established the Jeffrey Deskovic Foundation for Justice.

The organisation provides assistance to people challenging criminal convictions and advocates for changes intended to reduce wrongful convictions.

The foundation became involved in Krivak’s case and helped support efforts to obtain legal representation and review the evidence.

Deskovic’s experience provided a connection between Krivak’s legal battle and broader concerns about interrogation practices, witness reliability and criminal appeals.

Anthony DiPippo also supported Krivak after his own acquittal in 2016.

The involvement of both men helped keep attention on the unresolved questions surrounding Josette’s murder.

Their support became important as Krivak sought release from prison and prepared for another trial.

Andrew Krivak Released on Bail in October 2020

In October 2020, Krivak was released from prison on bail while awaiting further criminal proceedings.

He had spent nearly 24 years incarcerated in connection with Josette Wright’s murder.

His release followed developments in the legal challenges to his conviction.

Krivak was placed under restrictions, including house arrest, while the case proceeded.

The release represented a major change in his circumstances after decades in custody.

But it did not constitute an acquittal or a final resolution of the charges.

Krivak remained subject to prosecution and faced the possibility of returning to prison if convicted at another trial.

He continued preparing his defence and challenging the evidence that had been used against him.

His legal team focused on the disputed confession, witness credibility and alternative-suspect evidence.

The proceedings would culminate in a retrial in February 2023.

Andrew Krivak’s Retrial in February 2023

Krivak’s retrial took place more than 25 years after his original conviction.

The prosecution maintained that he was responsible for the murder and sexual assault of Josette Wright.

The defence challenged the reliability of the evidence used to convict him in 1997.

Jurors examined the original allegations alongside information that had emerged during the intervening years.

Krivak’s disputed confession remained an important part of the case.

His attorneys argued that the statement was unreliable and had been obtained through coercive questioning.

The defence also raised questions about witness testimony and evidence involving Howard Gombert.

The prosecution was required to establish guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.

The passage of time created difficulties for both sides, with witnesses and evidence dating back to the 1990s.

The retrial represented Krivak’s opportunity to challenge the charges before a new jury after decades of imprisonment and litigation.

Andrew Krivak Acquitted on February 27, 2023

On February 27, 2023, a jury acquitted Andrew Krivak of the charges arising from Josette Wright’s murder.

The verdict ended the criminal prosecution that had dominated his life since the 1990s.

Krivak had maintained his innocence throughout his imprisonment and legal challenges.

The acquittal meant that he no longer stood convicted of second-degree murder or first-degree rape.

It followed Anthony DiPippo’s acquittal in October 2016.

The two verdicts removed the convictions that had formed the original legal resolution of Josette’s murder.

Krivak’s acquittal did not establish who killed Josette.

It meant that the prosecution had failed to prove his guilt beyond a reasonable doubt at the retrial.

For Krivak, the outcome brought an end to decades of criminal proceedings.

For Josette’s family, the result left the murder without a surviving conviction against either of the two men prosecuted in the 1990s.

Andrew Krivak’s Life After His Acquittal

Krivak’s acquittal in February 2023 ended the legal restrictions associated with the murder prosecution.

He had spent nearly 24 years imprisoned before his release on bail in 2020 and had continued fighting the charges until the 2023 verdict.

The outcome allowed him to pursue life outside the criminal justice system without the murder and rape convictions that had defined his adult years.

His case attracted attention from wrongful-conviction advocates and journalists examining the original investigation.

Krivak’s experience also became connected to broader discussions about false confessions and the treatment of young suspects.

The decades between his arrest and acquittal represented a substantial loss of freedom.

His legal team pursued compensation for the consequences of his imprisonment.

The civil proceedings became the next major chapter in his case.

They resulted in settlements with New York State and Putnam County.

The $5.72 Million New York State Settlement

Following his acquittal, Krivak pursued compensation through the New York Court of Claims.

The proceedings concerned the years he had spent imprisoned under a conviction that was overturned.

In September 2023, Krivak reached a settlement worth approximately $5.72 million.

The agreement represented compensation connected to his wrongful imprisonment.

It followed the February 2023 acquittal and the conclusion of the criminal proceedings.

The settlement did not establish who murdered Josette Wright.

Krivak continued pursuing separate civil rights litigation concerning the conduct of investigators and the circumstances surrounding his conviction.

That case resulted in a further substantial settlement in 2024.

Together, the agreements represented one of the most significant financial outcomes associated with the Putnam County murder investigation.

The $20 Million Civil Rights Settlement in 2024

In October 2024, Krivak reached a $20 million settlement in federal civil rights litigation.

The case concerned allegations arising from the original investigation and his wrongful conviction.

His legal claims challenged the conduct of authorities involved in building the prosecution’s case.

The litigation included allegations concerning coercive questioning, unreliable statements and the handling of evidence.

The settlement brought an end to the federal compensation dispute.

Combined with the $5.72 million New York State settlement, Krivak’s reported compensation amounted to approximately $25.72 million.

The payments addressed the financial consequences of his imprisonment but could not restore the years he spent in custody.

The settlements also reflected the legal repercussions of a prosecution that had resulted in a conviction overturned after decades of litigation.

The agreements did not amount to a criminal finding against another suspect.

Josette Wright’s murder remained unresolved.

The Questions Surrounding the Original Investigation

Krivak’s case raised concerns about the methods used during the original investigation.

His defence argued that investigators obtained a false confession through coercive questioning.

Several witnesses recanted statements and alleged that police had pressured them to implicate Krivak and DiPippo.

The defence also questioned whether investigators had given sufficient attention to information involving Howard Gombert.

These issues became central to the legal challenges against the original convictions.

The cases demonstrated the importance of examining witness credibility and the circumstances under which confessions are obtained.

The original prosecution had appeared to establish responsibility for Josette’s murder.

But the acquittals of both defendants removed that legal conclusion.

The criminal justice system was left with no surviving conviction against either man.

The case also raised questions about how investigators should assess alternative suspects when the prosecution’s evidence depends on contested statements.

The Connection to Robin Murphy’s Disappearance

Robin Murphy disappeared from Carmel, New York, on April 9, 1995, when she was 17 years old.

Her disappearance occurred approximately six months after Josette Wright vanished.

Robin had borrowed her mother’s car and was expected to meet her boyfriend.

Her vehicle was found at a shopping centre in Carmel, but she was never located.

Howard Gombert became a person of interest in Robin’s disappearance because he had worked at a laundromat in the shopping centre where she was last seen.

Investigators recovered underwear identified as belonging to Robin from belongings associated with Gombert.

Gombert maintained that he had collected clothing left by customers at the laundromat.

The discovery raised questions but did not establish his involvement in Robin’s disappearance.

His name became important in discussions of both cases because of the alternative-suspect evidence raised during the litigation concerning Josette’s murder.

No court has convicted Gombert of murdering Josette or causing Robin’s disappearance.

The cases remain distinct investigations, and a common perpetrator has not been established.

Where Is Andrew Krivak Now in November 2026?

Andrew Krivak is a free man following his February 27, 2023, acquittal in connection with Josette Wright’s murder.

He spent nearly 24 years imprisoned before securing release on bail in October 2020.

His retrial ended with a not-guilty verdict in February 2023, removing the criminal convictions that had kept him incarcerated.

Following his acquittal, Krivak pursued compensation and reached settlements totalling approximately $25.72 million.

The agreements included a $5.72 million New York State settlement in September 2023 and a $20 million federal civil rights settlement in October 2024.

His precise current residence, employment and private circumstances as of November 2026 have not been established through reliable public reporting.

There is no basis to identify a specific current employer or make claims about how he has used the settlement money.

His documented public circumstances concern his acquittal, release from criminal prosecution and the financial settlements arising from his wrongful imprisonment.

Did Andrew Krivak Receive Justice?

Krivak’s acquittal in February 2023 ended the criminal case that had kept him imprisoned for nearly 24 years.

The verdict removed his convictions for second-degree murder and first-degree rape.

His release and subsequent compensation represented significant legal outcomes after decades of litigation.

But the proceedings could not restore the years he spent incarcerated.

Krivak entered the criminal justice system as a young man and spent much of his adult life fighting the charges.

The case also left unresolved questions about the original investigation and the evidence used to secure his conviction.

Anthony DiPippo had been acquitted in 2016, meaning neither man remained convicted of Josette Wright’s murder.

The acquittals brought an end to the prosecutions against both defendants but did not identify the killer.

For Krivak, the outcome was freedom and compensation. For Josette’s family, the absence of a surviving conviction left the murder without a definitive criminal resolution.

Andrew Krivak’s Story in 20/20’s Hiding Beneath the Surface

ABC’s 20/20 examines Krivak’s conviction and acquittal as part of its investigation into the cases of Josette Wright and Robin Murphy.

The programme revisits Josette’s disappearance in October 1994 and the discovery of her remains in November 1995.

It examines the investigation that led to the convictions of Krivak and Anthony DiPippo in 1997.

The special also explores the disputed evidence, witness recantations and allegations involving Howard Gombert.

Krivak’s legal battle became significant because his conviction remained in place for more than two decades before he secured a new trial.

His acquittal in February 2023 removed the remaining conviction arising from the original prosecution.

The programme places those legal outcomes alongside the unresolved disappearance of Robin Murphy, whose case has also attracted attention because of evidence involving Gombert.

The investigation examines how the two cases developed and why important questions remain more than three decades after the girls disappeared.

What Happened to Andrew Krivak?

Andrew Krivak was convicted in 1997 of second-degree murder and first-degree rape in connection with the death of 12-year-old Josette Wright.

He maintained his innocence and challenged the prosecution’s evidence for more than two decades.

His defence argued that his confession had been obtained through coercive questioning and that investigators had relied on unreliable witness statements.

Evidence concerning Howard Gombert became important to the legal challenges against the original convictions.

Krivak secured release on bail in October 2020 after spending nearly 24 years imprisoned.

His retrial ended with an acquittal on February 27, 2023.

Following his acquittal, he pursued compensation and reached settlements worth approximately $25.72 million in 2023 and 2024.

Anthony DiPippo, who had been convicted in separate proceedings arising from the same murder investigation, was acquitted in October 2016.

Neither man remains convicted of Josette Wright’s murder.

As of November 2026, Andrew Krivak remains free following his acquittal. His exact residence and current occupation have not been confirmed.

His case is revisited in ABC’s 20/20 special “Hiding Beneath the Surface: The Putnam County School Girls,” airing Friday, November 13, 2026, at 9/8c, with streaming availability on Disney+ and Hulu.

More “Hiding Beneath the Surface: The Putnam County School Girls’

• “Hiding Beneath the Surface: The Putnam County School Girls”: 20/20 Reports on Josette Wright & Robin Murphy November 13 2026
• Who Is Anthony DiPippo & Where Is He Now? 2026 Update & Profile
• Who Is Andrew Krivak & Where Is He Now? 2026 Update & Profile

More Feature Articles 

• “Hiding Beneath the Surface: The Putnam County School Girls”: 20/20 Reports on Josette Wright & Robin Murphy November 13 2026
• “Hunted”: Dateline Reports on Laura McNaughton Homicide November 13 2026